Russian President Vladimir Putin and Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon discussed Afghanistan and the expansion of bilateral cooperation and security of the region. The two presidents stressed that thousands of ISIS fighters and other terrorists are present in Afghanistan.
During the telephone conversation, Rahmon said that the increase in the activity of terrorist groups, including ISIS, in Afghanistan has caused the instability of central Asian countries.
According to him, since August 2021, thousands of members of ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Ansarullah and Hizb ut-Tahrir have been released from Afghan prisons.
Putin also believes that northern Afghanistan has become a hub for ISIS and Al-Qaeda fighters.
The Tajik president has warned Central Asia states that the presence of terrorists in Afghanistan may lead to the radicalisation of the region.
Rahmon is going to talk about Afghanistan at the next meeting of the leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which will be held in Samarkand in September.
According to media reports, in addition to the president of Tajikistan, the presidents of Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan will probably attend the upcoming SCO meeting.
